You can now book T3 Professional Development Sessions

• 29th July | ONLINE 4-5pm | Logbooks and Area of Study 3 – Jarrod Paine
• 3rd September | ONLINE 4-5pm | Exam Preparation Masterclass for teachers preparing students for VCE OES exam – Belinda Dalziel
• 26th Aug | ONLINE 4-5pm | Anaphylaxis management in the field – Adam Kershaw

Calling all Unit 2 VCE Outdoor and Environmental Studies Teachers

OV is partnering with all Victorian Universities and TAFE/RTOs that offer outdoor leadership and outdoor education courses to bring you a free excursion or incursion about outdoor careers. Lecturers and teachers from your local institutions will deliver these sessions. The session covers the following content from unit 2, outcome 1:

Key Knowledge:

• Understandings of vocational perspectives of outdoor environments, including at least two of the following:
  • Outdoor leading and guiding
  • Education

If you would like to express interest in this session, please complete an EOI form here.

For further information, please get in touch with Andrew Gooday at: careerscoordinator@outdoorsvictoria.org.au

Welcome to our new affiliate supporters:

Emily Radford (Student)
Corey Versteegen (Teacher)
Belgrave Heights Christian School (School)
Warakirri College (School)
Donvale Christian College (School)
Rebecca Andrews (Individual)
Saint Ignatius College Geelong (School)
Andrew Read (Teacher)
Teneille Collins (student)

A quick reminder that Outdoors Victoria’s Affiliate renewals now align with the financial year — the new period started 1 July 2025.

• 🎉 New to OV? Sign up here
• 🔄 Renewing Affiliate? You should’ve received an email with your renewal link.

Didn’t get it? Please contact us at info@outdoorsvictoria.org.au rather than submitting a new form.

Thanks for staying connected with the OV community!

Attention: MTB Club Committees and LGA Recreation Co-ordinators and Planners 

Be part of a pivotal moment in the future of mountain biking in Victoria.

Join PLAvictoria, OutdoorsVic, and Blue Sky Trails for the inaugural Victorian Sustainable Mountain Bike Trails Summit.

This landmark event, supported by AusCycling, will bring together public land managers, trail advocates, industry leaders, and MTB Club Committee members to shape the future of Victoria’s mountain bike trails.

Why This Summit Matters
Victoria’s trail networks are under growing pressure from increased use and changing environmental and legislative conditions. Now is the time to take a collaborative, strategic look at how we plan, manage, and sustain trails as valuable assets.

The summit will focus on:

• Exploring ways to support existing Victorian MTB trails and ensure their long-term sustainability
• Strategic and policy considerations including insurance, shaping the future of the sector
• Sustainable operating models that support environmental resilience and community engagement
• Dirt jumps in LGAs
• Governance and management structures that balance risk, data, and public benefit

Whether you’re a land manager, council officer, trail builder, club committee member, or policy maker, if mountain biking intersects with your work or lifestyle, this Summit is your chance to engage deeply and help lead a shift toward a sustainable future.

Book here and more to come soon on Presenters and Workshops on PLA’s website: Victorian Sustainable MTB Trails Summit

Fundraising at Coburg High School to honour passing of Teacher Hannah Willmott

Earlier this year, Coburg High School lost a beloved VCE Outdoor and Environmental Studies teacher, Hannah Willmott, to brain cancer. Her passing left a deep impact on students and staff, especially those currently taking Outdoor Ed as a subject. 

To honour her legacy and passion for Outdoor Education, the students are holding a Memorial Walk and school-wide fundraising event. The memorial walk ends at the AH Capp Reserve, Preston, a local soccer oval where there will be a teacher vs students soccer game – those from the outdoors sector who knew Hannah are also welcome. All proceeds will go toward the Hannah Willmott Memorial Outdoor Education Scholarship, helping future Year 9 students access Outdoor Ed, and the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness & Research Centre, supporting vital cancer research. 

The purpose of the walk and fundraising is to advertise the importance of the subject of Outdoor Ed to the students of Coburg High School, which is why a scholarship will be a serious influence in students decision making.

If you feel moved to support this student-led initiative, or would like to share it with others in the Outdoors sector, you can learn more or donate via the link below:

https://onj-cancer-wellness-and-research-centre-community-fundraising.raisely.com/t/coburghighschool

Carry the Flame

The Remarkable Story of the Canadian Outward Bound Wilderness School

by Charles Luckmann, Alistair McArthur, Wendy Pieh, and Ian Yolles

In a world where exploration, resilience and compassion have never been more vital, Carry the Flame: The Remarkable Story of the Canadian Outward Bound Wilderness School takes readers on an inspiring journey through the rugged landscapes and
transformative experiences that define this iconic institution.

Written with passion and meticulous detail, this remarkable book delves into the history, mission, and impact of the Canadian Outward Bound Wilderness School, touching on the lives it has forever changed. Throughout more than fifty eclectic essays, former staff,
board members, and students articulate the distinctive, unique spirit of the school and its lasting impact on their lives.

Packed with candid and deeply personal stories, rich history, and unforgettable moments, the book provides a rare glimpse into how the school has shaped
generations of leaders, adventurers, and changemakers. More than just an essay collection, Carry the Flame serves as a testament to the enduring human spirit and the power of nature to transform lives.

Whether you’re a seasoned adventurer, a seeker of inspiration, or simply someone who
cherishes the wild, this book will leave you motivated to embrace your own journey and, above all, to carry the flame forward.

You can get a copy through Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com.au/Carry-Flame-Remarkable-Canadian-Wilderness/dp/B0DCTQT42Q

Outdoor Health Forum 2025 – register now!

The 2025 national Outdoor Health Forum is taking place on Bundjalung Country, October
17-19. Just 15 minutes from both Byron Bay and Ballina and set against the stunning
backdrop of coastal lakes, ocean and rainforest, the national Outdoor Health Forum
celebrates diversity in age, gender, culture and identity. Outdoor Health includes all
evidence-informed nature-based practices and approaches.

This year’s Forum has a strong involvement of Indigenous presenters including Bundjalung and Yiman women Dr Caroline Atkinson, Delta Kay (Arakwal Bundjalung) and kuku-Yalanji man from Cape York Peninsula Johnny Murrison. The 3-day event has nine featured presenters including Dr Arne Rubinstein, Ms Emily Krystelle and Dr Tim Baker and over 50 workshops spanning theories and practices designed to inspire and challenge us. Quality pre and post forum offerings add further richness to the experience. 

The forum theme ‘Nurture with Nature’ grounds us in a journey of health and wellbeing
outdoors. The Forum will illuminate the diversity, breadth and depth of our outdoor health community, uniting diverse thinkers and doers. With over 50 workshops, spotlight sessions, fireside yarns and immersion circles, the 3-day event will be a captivating experiential journey into the evidence and practices of outdoor health.
 
Whether you’re a practitioner, researcher, academic, student, policy maker, manager, CEO
or an interested person, you are invited to attend this valuable professional development
event and meaningful personal experience.

Dates: Friday 17 Oct to 5pm Sunday 19 Oct 2025 

Location: On the coast – Lake Ainsworth Sport & Recreation Centre, Lennox Head, NSW
See the emerging program and register at: www.outdoorhealthforum.com.au

Parks Victoria has a range of Learning in Nature resources, including curriculum-aligned programs and resources that support Early Childhood, Primary and Secondary teachers to embed environmental education into classroom learning.

Discover Nature Stewards – a multi-week course that connects curious people with their local and wider habitats. Spring courses 2025 will start soon in Ballarat and Geelong.

The 2025 Australian Camps Association (ACA) National Conference, will be held

Tuesday 9th September through to Thursday 11th of September 2025.

Find out more: https://auscamps.asn.au/events/aca-national-conference